Shell holders



Sept. 26, 1961 G. E. MAXWELL SHELL HOLDERS Filed June 11, 1958 INVENTOR GEORGE E. MAXWELL- ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 26, 1961 United States Patent Chi ce time 3,001,678 SHELL HOLDERS George Earl Maxwell, 1003 4th St., White Bear Lake, Minn. Filed June 11, 1958, Ser. No. 741,412 8 Claims. (Cl. 224-) This invention relates to an improvement in shell holders and deals particularly with a simple apparatus for supporting a series of shotgun shells in position where they are readily accessible to a hunter.

One of the difliculties experienced in hunting with a shot-gun lies in the fact that considerable time is often required to reload the gun after it has been fired. Various types of shotguns contain various numbers of shells but oftentime the number of shells which may be inserted into a shotgun is limited by law for conservation reasons. As a result, it is necessary for the hunter to reload as quickly as possible if he is to fire the maximum number of shots at a flock of ducks or the like. Where extra shells are kept in a box, it is often difficult to grasp the shells and to insert them into the gun quickly particularly in cold weather. In such weather, if the hunter wears gloves, it is diflicult and awkward to remove the desired number of shells from a box and if the hunter has discarded his gloves, the cold will chill the hands and make the shell handling operation diflicult.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a simple and eifective holder which is capable of holding a series of shells in parallel side by side relation. The shells are normally supported in a substantial-v ly vertical position and the holder engages the charge containing end of the shell by engaging the rim of flange encircling this end of the shell. The shells are laterally slidable in the holder and are normally held from disengagement from the holder by stop shoulders at the ends of the support. By engaging the shells and lifting them slightly, the desired number of shells may be simultaneously grasped and removed from the holder for insertion into the gun.

A feature of the present invention resides in the fact that the shells are supported with the major portion thereof exposed and readily engageable by the hand while at the same time the extremity of the charge containing ends of the shells are enclosed. As a result, the portion of the shell which contains the firing cap is enclosed and the cap is prevented from accidental-1y striking some object or projection which might strike the cap and explode the shell.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a channel shaped enclosure having generally open ends. This enclosure is supported in any suitable manner with the base uppermost. Short inwardly extending opposed flanges are provided near the lower edges of the opposed side walls of the enclosure. These flanges are designed to engage the peripheral flange at the charge containing end of the shell, so that the shells are supported depending from the opposed flanges. Inwardly extending shoulders are provided at the ends of the enclosure preventing the shells from sliding from the ends. These shoulders terminate short of the base of the channel shaped enclosure so that by grasping and lifting one or more shells, they may be drawn through the ends of the enclosure for insertion into the gun. The shell holder may be loaded in much the same manner through the ends of the holder. v

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a shell holder of the type described having a bearing plate designed to rest against the body against an upright surface so that the shells are readily accessible. The plate is preferably provided with slots or apertures therethrough designed to accommodate supporting straps or a neck encircling strap to support the holder at a convenient elevation forwardly of the chest of the hunter.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the fact that the supporting plate may, if desired, be provided with a resilient clip engageable with the edge of a coat or other garment to hold the shell holder in a proper location.

An added feature of the present invention resides in the fact that the apertures in the mounting plate may be used to accommodate screws or other fastening means which may fasten the mounting plate to the edge of a boat or other object.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a shell holder of the type described which may include an aperture in the base of the channed shaped holder through which the shells may be dropped in loading the holder.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the holder illustrating the manner in which shells are supported thereby.

FIGURE 2 is a rear perspective view of the holder shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view through the holder showing the manner in which the shells are supported.

The cartridge holder is indicated in general by the letter A. In general, the holder A includes an elongated channel shaped member including a top panel 10 which forms the base of the channel, a forward vertical wall 11, and a rear wall panel 12. The panels 11 and 12 are substantially parallel and are provided with inturned flanges 13 and 14 respectively which are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the outer diameter of the cylindrical metal casing 15 of a shotgun shell B.

The shotgun shells B are of any conventional type and usually include a cylindrical metal casing which is connected by a peripheral flange 16 at the end of the casing to the end closure 17 of the shell which includes the priming cap 19. The metal shell 15 tightly encircles the end of a sleeve 20 which is usually formed of fibrous material such as paper or the like, the free end of which is crimped inwardly to hold the shell wadding. .The flange 16 at the end of the shell projects onwardly beyond the periphery of the shell casing portion 15 and is of a greater diameter than that of the shell casing and greater than the distance between the free edges of the flanges 13 and 14; Accordingly when the shells B are inserted in the holder A, they are freely suspended by the flanges '16 which rest upon the inturned flanges 13 and 14 of the channel walls.

In the particular arrangement illustrated, the top panel 10 is connected to an upturned panel 21 which is secured in surface contact to an extension of the rear wall 12 indicated at 22. In other words, in the particular arrangement illustrated, the channel is formed of two parts which are connected together, these parts being the panels 22 and 21 which are secured in surface contact to form a supporting or mounting plate.

As is indicated in the drawings, the lower portions of the channel side walls 1 1 and 12 are bent inwardly as indicated at 23 and 24 repectively to form stop shoulders. These shoulders 23 and 24 on opposite sides of the channel are spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of the peripheral flange 16 of the shell casing but these shoulders are spaced apart a distance greater than the diameter of the metal shell portion 15. As indicated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings, the stop shoulders 23 and 24 terminate in spaced relation to the top panel 10 so as to provide a open area at each end of th shell.-

3 holder through which the flange 16 of the shell may be moved. Thus, when the upper ends of the shells are in proximity to the undersurface of the channel top panel 16., the shells may be inserted or removed from the holder. The stop shoulders 23 and 24 prevent the various shells from being accidentally disengaged from the holder.

The mounting plate formed by the panels 21 and 22 are provided with generally transversely extending elongated slots 25 and 26 designed to accommodate the ends of a neck encircling strap 27 or other suitable supporting means. As is indicated in the drawings, one end 29 of each of the slots '25 and 25 is enlarged to a suflicient diameter to accommodate the head of a screw or the like. This arrangement permits the holder to be supported by a pair of spaced screws extending into the inner wall of a boat or the like or to any other suitable fixed support. The holder is secured in place by merely inserting the heads of the supporting screws through the enlarged ends 29-of the slots 25 and'26 and moving the holder laterally until the bolt heads engage in the narrower portions of the slots, these narrower portions being narrower than the screw heads to hold the holder in place.

A spring clamping element 30 is secured to therear of the mounting panel if desired and may be used to attach the mounting panel to the edge of a coat or similar article of apparel. This clamping member 30 includes a pair of clamping jaws 31 and 32. which are urged together by spring tension. The clamping member 30' cooperates with the neck strap to hold the holder in a desired position forwardly of the chest-of the hunter.

In view of the fact that the shells are held suspended in a vertical position, it is possible to grasp the shells with the hand. In view of the ready accessibility of the cartridges, they may be readily grasped by the hand and manipulated even while wearing gloves. The proper number of shells may be engaged by the hand, these shells raised and pulled laterally to remove them from the holder. As a result, the gun may be reloaded much more quickly than would normally be the case. While the holdler is extremely simple in form, it is this very simplicity which makes it so easy to operate and fool proof in operation. 7

In the foregoing description, the holder has been described as being made oftwo parts connected together. Obviously, the channel may be made in one piece and the supporting plate merely welded thereto. Alternatively, the entire device may be extruded in a single piece to form an elongated extrusion which may be cut up to parts of the proper length, In view of the fact that the cross sectional shapemay be obtained by such an extrusion process, the device may be completed by forming the openings in the backing plate and bending in the stop shoulders described.

'In FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the top panel of the channel shaped member is shown as including an aperture 33 of sufficiently large diameter to accommodate the shotgun shell B passing axially therethrough. This aperture 33 provides an alternate manner of loading the holder. However, it is not means as of permitting the removal of the shells irom the holder as this removal can be much more quickly and effectively accomplished through the end of the holder.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my improvement in shell holders, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that changes may be made within the scope ofthe following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim: 7

1. A shotgun shell holder for use with shotgun shells of a predetermined diameter having flanged ends, including a'pair of elongated side members, connecting means supporting said side members in spaced parallel relation, inturned flanges on said side members spaced beneath said connecting means at a distance approximating the diameter of the peripheral flange on the shotgun shell casings, said flanges being spaced apart a distance equal to the diameter of shotgun shell casings but less than the diameter of the peripheral flange on the shotgun shell casings, and stop shoulders on the ends of said side members adjoining the ends of said flanges to prevent shotgun shells from sliding from the ends of said flanges, said stop shoulders terminating substantially below the connecting means connecting said side members and substantially above the flanges whereby shotgun shells may be inserted between said side members or removed from between said side members by passing the peripheral flange of the shotgun shell between said side members above said stop shoulders.

2. A holder for holding shotgun shells having. generally cylindrical casings having a peripheral flange at one end thereof, the holder including a pair of generally parallel side members spaced apart a distance at least equal to the diameter of the peripheral shell casing flange, means spaced from the lower edges of said side members at a distance approximating the diameter of the peripheral flange on the shotgun shell casings holding the side members in parallel spaced relation, inturned flanges on said side members in opposed relation, the distance between said inturned flanges being at least equal to the diameter of the major portion of the shell casing but a distance less than the diameter of said peripheral flange of said shell casing, and stop shoulder means at the ends of said side members adjoining said inturned flanges engageable with the peripheral flanges of shells resting upon said flanges withthe'shell casings depending downwardly between said inturned flanges to hold said shells from sliding from the ends of said flanges, said stop shoulders terminating below the upper edges of said side members and substantially above the flanges whereby shells suspended from said inturned flanges may'be disengaged from the ends of said side members by lifting the peripheral flanges of the shell casings over said stop shoulders.

3. The construction described in claim 2 and including a bearing plate on one-of said side members.

4. The construction described in claim 3 and in which said bearing plate includes slot means for accommodation of bearing plate supporting means.

5. The construction described in claim 3 and in which said bearing plate is provided With a resilient jaw type clamp attached thereto.

6. A shell holder for holding shotgun shells having elongated substantially cylindrical casings provided with an enlarged diameter peripheral flange at one end thereof, the holder including an elongated inverted channel having a base formingthe top of the channel and spaced sides connected to said base and extending downwardly therefrom to a distance approximating the diameter of the peripheral flange on the shotgun shell casings, 1n-

turned flanges on said channel sides spaced below saidtop, the sides of said channel being spaced apart a distance sufficient to accommodate the peripheral flange of a shotgun shell therebetween, said spaced inturned flanges being spaced apart a distance greater than the diameter of the shell casing but less than the diameter of the peripheral flange, whereby said holder may support shells with the peripheral flanges thereof resting upon said inturned flanges and with the shell casings extending between said spaced inturned flanges and beneath said channel sides, and stop shoulders at the opposite ends of said sides'adjoining said inturned flanges, said stop shoulders being engageable with said peripheral .flanges to limit-the slidable movement of said peripheral flanges on said inturned flanges, said stop shoulders terminating below said channel base and substantially above said flanges whereby the peripheral flanges of said shells may be inserted between, or withdrawn from, between said spaced channel sides above said stop shoulders.

7. The construction described in claim 6 and including a bearing plate connected to one of said channel sides and extending upwardly therefrom.

8. The construction described in claim 6 and in which the channel base includes an aperture therethrough of 5 a diameter at least equal to the diameter of said peripheral flanges.

References Cited in the file of this patent 6 Hiering Dec. 25, 1928 Buhrke Dec. 17, 1929 Anderson May 29, 1951 Gould Dec. 9, 1952 Schmidt Aug. 14, 1956 Lee Dec. 4, 1956 Blanchard June 3, 1958 Kay July 7, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain 1901 

